After Kerala, the Central Government is paying heed to citizens who require valid vaccination proofs to travel abroad. The Centre has decided to issue vaccination certificates that will now be linked to one’s passport. By Presha Mahajan
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The Union Health Ministry recently decided to issue either final or provisional COVID-19 vaccination certificates, specifically for those travelling abroad for work and employment, education, or as the contingent for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. The certificate will include one’s passport number, name of the vaccine, and vaccination status. The certificate thus issued will act as travel clearance for countries where it is imperative to furnish proof of vaccination before entering, and no other qualification will be required.
The mandatory gap between both doses of the vaccine is reduced from the earlier 12 to 16 weeks, to four to six weeks. Beneficiaries who are only partially vaccinated can apply for the second dose after 28 days. Covishield, having been cleared by WHO for emergency use, will be administered to emergency travellers. This facility will be available till August 31, 2021.
The Ministry has advised beneficiaries to provide their passports as ID proof when they get vaccinated. “If the passport was not used at the time of administration of the first dose, the details of the photo ID card used for vaccination will be printed in the vaccination certificate and a mention of the passport in the vaccination certificate is not to be insisted upon. Wherever necessary, the competent authority may issue another certificate linking the vaccination certificate with the passport number of the beneficiary,” the Ministry said, reports Times of India.
Since the second dose will now be administered before completing the minimum 84-day interval prescribed by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC), the CoWIN portal will soon provide the facility to register for such exceptional cases.
Editor’s Note: Keeping the current situation of the pandemic in mind, T+L India recommends every reader to stay safe, and take all government-regulated precautions in case travel at this time is absolutely necessary. Please follow our stories on COVID-19 for all the latest travel guidelines.
Related: Kerala To Note Passport Numbers On Vaccination Certificates—Here’s Why
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